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The phone is a remarkably complex, simple device,
and very rarely ever needs repairs, once you fix them. Dan/Panther

Paystations got upgraded through the years .this makes the older ones expensive..Note the bronze handset hook,type 38 handset and the metal and porcelain dial shroud.expensive parts to replace.I do wonder about the dial plate with dots instead of blank.I think dots were used on Leich equipment before the arrows were introduced on the earlier type 80 sets with the 2 piece dial

Note the absence of springs on the AE semi-postpay relay. The shorting contacts on the top right are opened by the coins, so that the caller can hear and be heard.

The relay is reset when the caller hangs up. At that time the reversed polarity of the line, that occurs when the called party answers, returns to normal polarity. The current flowing through the coil causes the relay to reset.

Note the absence of springs on the AE semi-postpay relay. The shorting contacts on the top right are opened by the coins, so that the caller can hear and be heard.

The relay is reset when the caller hangs up. At that time the reversed polarity of the line, that occurs when the called party answers, returns to normal polarity. The current flowing through the coil causes the relay to reset.

Thanks for that. It certainly looks large and robust enough to perform its function.

I assume that the coin holds the contact open for the duration of the call and the reversal (un-reversal) at call completion returns the relay to normal and releases the coin.

It seems that this type of payphone should work on any line that provides answer supervision in the form of a reversal. Do ATAs that perform a reversal have enough grunt to operate a semi-postpay payphone?

Not exactly. The coins go directly into the vault. ("Do not pass go. Do not collect $200", to use a Monopoly game analogy.) It's just that as they pass, they open the contacts that have been closed by the coil action. These contacts remain open for the rest of the call, and continue to stay open with the phone on hook, until on a subsequent call, the called party answers. They have to stay open so that calls to free numbers (such as operator or information) can be completed without coins.

I doubt ATAs that do a reversal would work with the origional relays unless everything is perfect. The transistor microswitch retrofit relay is more sensitve since it does not have a large relay to move

I find the early Gray pay telephones one of the most interesting of payphone subjects. Here is a Gray 34A 11 five cent payphone. This phone is Gray,it was made by Gray. These phones were also made by A/E after A/E bought Gray. The 34A9 that was on ebay was a A/E. One of the problems with the 34A 9 on ebay was the relay and the chute, I will get into that more in a minute. Here is a true 34A11 as it was pulled from service.